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ay-Friendly landscaping recognizes that our landscapes, whether they are commercial, institutional, <br />( residential or open space, are part of the larger ecosystem of the San Francisco Bay Area. It does not <br />mean that the landscape must be wild and uncontrolled, but rather on the whole, it respells the natural <br />attributes of our region and contributes to the health, diversity and sustainability of the San Francisco Bay <br />ecosystem. <br />In return, many of the natural processes of a well functioning ecosystem, like nutrient cycling, can then benefit the <br />landscape you design, construct or maintain. In addition, your clients are re-connected to nature through their <br />landscapes, in one of the world's most renowned environments. <br />I .Select and evaluate the site <br />carefully <br />Careful selection and evaluation will <br />reveal both the opportunities and the <br />limits of the site. Consider the unique <br />features of smaller zones within the site, <br />which could mean the difference <br />between life and death for some plants. <br />^ Determine if the site is an urban <br />growth boundary, a brownfeld or <br />near a sensitive ecosystem <br />^ Visit the site and among other <br />features, identify on a site map the: <br />• Sunny, shady and partly shady areas <br />• Hot spots along south facing walls <br />and fences <br />• Wet or dry spots <br />• Windy or exposed areas and the <br />direction of prevailing winds <br />• Slopes <br />• Frost pockets <br />• Shape & size of planting areas <br />• Zones with diffcult access <br />• Water flow <br />^ Visit www.BayFriendl«org for a free <br />copy of the Site Analysis template. <br />This knowledge is critical to all other <br />Bay-Friendly landscaping practices - <br />particularly being able to select plant <br />materials that match the site. It places <br />the landscape in the context of the San <br />Francisco Bay Area. In the long run, it <br />allows you to collaborate with nature, <br />saving you time and money. <br />"Many wild areas of <br />O <br />Yosemite are more beautiful than _ <br />any garden, and they don't need <br />regular maintenance. The other extreme is <br />formal hedges, roses and lawns that require lots <br />of attention and resources to maintain. We need <br />to find a middle ground in design and <br />maintenance of the urban landscape. " <br />- Nate Silin, Owner, New Growth Landscape, Oakland <br />o'b <br />~~ <br />I <br />~„~, <br />k~ <br />w <br />~, ~-~. <br />h~ <br />I ~ <br />t <br />~~ <br />13 <br />